Meet the faces behind our journey to cultivate sustainable and regenerative ecosystems. Discover their unique backgrounds, passions, and contributions to our mission of a sustainable future.
Permanent members – The Pigadians
Meet Jules
Jules is the founder and dreamer of Dio Pigadia. Coming from a background in academia, studying sociology and political philosophy, he came from the library not the land. Sitting at a desk with a computer he felt the need for the outdoors and left the office for the sea, teaching sailing lessons and repairing boats in France. Working in shipyards he learnt essential manual skills that would prove valuable in his future at the farm. He eventually set sail solo across the world exploring different places and new cultures. Feeling a responsibility and duty to the earth and guided by a desire to grow his roots, he dreamt up Dio Pigadia. The project focuses on an alternate way of living, and co-creating a better future together. The volunteers started to come by themselves, guided by a similar philosophy in the face of the ecological crisis. Dio Pigadia is a community based ever-growing project. Education, ecology and living together are the key pillars we experience and share. If you can’t find Jules, he’ll be rummaging in the tip for up-cycled materials or conversing with the donkey — Vouno.
Stay: October 2018 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Dreaming about the future of the farm
Why did you come here? A mix of destiny, luck and love.
Favourite quote: “All money arises from the wealth of the natural world (plant, clean water, clean air, stored energy). The accumulation of unused wealth, or wealth that does to lead to the proliferation of life, is a pollution of the same nature as ay insured reproduce. Manure and money have much in common.” – Bill Mollison
Meet Clem
Clem’s passion in gardening and working outside brought her to become a seasonal worker in agriculture. But her desire for human connection helped her pivot to a more cultural sector, bringing together community and environmental awareness to drive change in the global ecological crisis. Her priority is taking action for the environment. She was drawn to Greece where ecological movement was young and immediately felt called to get involved, challenging herself to lead through example. She found her home at Dio Pigadia, helping establish NGO dedicated to protect the biodiversity of the area. Her focus around soil regeneration and permaculture has allowed her to find her life’s purpose, protecting and sharing her knowledge of the environment. The work and community at Dio Pigadia fills her with hope for our collective future. If you want to find Clem, she’ll be in the garden, blasting her music or solving crosswords on the couch.
Stay: October 2022 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Protecting biodiversity
Why did you come here? Upset by the local ecological crisis, I decided to delve deeper by taking action
Favourite quote: “I intend to forever keep this capacity to marvel and to revel, the two breasts of humanism”
Meet James
James decided to make a pivot in his life, coming from France to Greece in search of community and a change of routine. From his multiple visits to Greece, he fell in love with the landscapes, language, people and most importantly- the food. Known as the “handy-man” he spends most of his time in the workshop working with his hands to create both functional and artistic objects. James consumes approximately 1.3 litres of coffee a day, and finds enjoyment in the simple pleasure of pairing a cup of coffee with a cigarette. Or 10.
Stay: October 2023 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Sharing group projects and creating things together
Why did you come here? Because I was interesting in how the community here functions. There was an appealing feel to it, its nice to be a part of something that is growing.
Favourite quote: “Wise words and gentle hands create nicest worlds”
Meet Vaso
Coming from the urban jungle of Kallithea, Greece, Vaso wanted change her lifestyle to be closer to nature and be apart of communal living. She strongly believes that the fast-paced modern living is not conducive to environmental or physical health. A desire to depart from that lifestyle brought her to Dio Pigadia. With her Master degree in Global Environmental change, Vaso wants to live harmoniously with nature and takes every step towards sustainable living. She loves any kind of movement and practices pole dancing whenever she gets the chance. Her love of animals draws her to the horse and donkey pen, taking them out for a walk every day. If you can’t find Vaso she’ll be chasing after her cheeky dog — Darma.
Stay: November 2023 — Present
Favourite activity on the farm: Taking the horse and donkey on a walk and gardening
Why did you come here? It’s always been my dream to be close to nature and connected to the land living a communal lifestyle.
Favourite quote: “Be the good you want to see in the world”
Volunteers
Meet Sasha
With a background in ecology, Sasha came from Chicago, United States with the aim to learn how biology, community and food come together through permaculture. She puts importance on knowing where food comes from, and sharing the knowledge with multiple communities that can make everlasting change in the world.
By bringing science to the farming community, we can look at how biology impacts the future of humanity. You can find Sasha in the kitchen making some banging pita bread, or running around organising jars.
Stay: September 2023 — November 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Harvesting in the gardens
Why did you come here? To explore how we can create balance between humans and nature
Favourite quote: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings gonna get better. It’s not.” — Dr Seuss
Meet Katherine
With a background in psychology, Katherine aims to learn from the land and bring the two disciplines together. Coming from Massachusetts, United States, she came to Dio Pigadia to connect with nature. On the farm, she can be found cuddling her favourite cat Temu, and growing plants in the green house.
Stay: September 2023 — November 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Planting seeds
Why did you come here? To be more in-touch with the land
Favourite quote: “The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not everyone’s greed” – Gandhi
Meet Michail
Michail came from Northern Greece to Dio Pigadia to connect with nature and create a more peaceful and simple life. He aims to cultivate social change and spread awareness around a lifestyle more connected to the eco-system that we’re all apart of. If you ever need to find a crystal to match your energy — find Michail.
Stay: September 2023 — November 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Gardening
Why did you come here? Because 🙂
Favourite quote: “Moving fast is moving slow. Moving slow is moving fast”
Meet Clément
Clément came from Southern Paris searching for his first WWOOFing experience. For his first extended travel trip, he chose to come to Greece to discover the culture and history. And partly because you can still swim in November 😉 He discovered his love for olive picking at Dio Pigadia, thriving on the communal spirit and team effort. As one of the longest standing olive harvesting volunteers, he enjoys helping the community and working with the neighbours in nearby olive plots. Every day looks different on the farm for Clément, and he loves working with his hands or winding down with some sudoku.
Stay: September 2023 — November 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Olive picking
Why did you come here? To experience WWOOFing, meeting great people and to make great memories
Favourite quote: “All we have to decide, is what to do with the time that is given to us” — Gandalf
Meet Manon
Manon decided to depart from her life as a French and English teacher in Northern Paris, and come Greece to explore the history, food and people. Her love of teaching transformed into a love of using her hands and working manually with the soil. She thrives in a tight knit community, spending quality time and exchanging knowledge, skills and culture. Her love of animals is strong and she can always be found with a cat on her lap. If she’s not cuddling the cat Causette, she’s meowing back in conversation with her.
Stay: September 2023 — November 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Spending time in the garden (even weeding is satisfying)
Why did you come here? To find community in Greece while working with animals and gardening.
Favourite quote: “Vouloir bien est mon culte”
Meet Camille
After graduating from Engineering and Environmental Sciences in France, Camille decided to celebrate by going to Greece and putting her knowledge to work on a farm. As an experienced WWOOFer, Dio Pigadia is her longest stay yet. Looking to find her life’s purpose she was drawn to a community focused on sustainable living in harmony with the environment. She uses her time at Dio Pigadia to learn, reflect and share her skills with others. She believes in slow travel and loves dedicating her weekends to exploring the area and learning more about Greece. If you go anywhere with Camille prepare to walk fast and see if you can catch up!
Stay: October 2023 — December 2023
Favourite activity on the farm: Working on the garden and processing the vegetables
Why did you come here? To discover Greece, community life and to apply new skills and new knowledge about gardening and how to be more autonomous.
Favourite quote: “I intend to forever keep this capacity to marvel and to revel, the two breasts of humanism”
Get to know the amazing individuals and their stories who volunteered throughout Greece.
Read the Story of Didi and Nini being at Yamochori.
Read the Story of James and his stay at the Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Read the Story of Camille being at Kathy´s Island Retreat.
Read the Story of Manos staying at a permaculture farm in Vrisi.
Read the Story of Sarah and Anders being at Candili Natural organic farm.